Focusing on the ambiguous relationships between a husband, his wife, and her long-time friend, British playwright Harold Pinter’s play Old Times ran through a dress rehearsal at Little Theater Wednesday night, awing the small crowd in attendence in the process. The performance was directed by fourth-year Michael Lebovitz as his senior Theater project and features the talents of senior David Blatt as Deeley, junior Nina Morrison as his wife, Kate, and sophomore Asha Kaufman as her friend, Anna. Luckily for the crowd in attendance and for those who are sure to come to future shows, Blatt and company proved that despite the difficulty of the material and the differences in theatrical experience between them, they were able to perform Pinter’s text with grace, humor, and wit.

As is usual for much of Pinter’s playwriting, Old Times deals with the complicated and often contradictory relationships between middle-aged Brits. From the opening discussion between Deeley and Kate, we learn of the latter’s old friend, Anna, who is coming to visit the pair at their converted farmhouse on the British coast. Without much of a break, Anna arrives, bringing story after story of her and Kate’s adventures in London 20 years earlier and her present married life in Sicily. As Pinter subtly reveals his character’s misty pasts, we find out just how damaging the collision between one’s past and present life can be.

Though Lebovitz described his rehearsals like Pinter did his own, as a “stumbling erratic shorthand,” the work paid off regardless. His cast and crew put together a performance that showed every percent of the 110 that Lebovitz said they put into the project. Blatt, as the mocking and tactless husband, was both hilarious and disturbing, and Morrison, in playing his wife Kate, brought forth all the nuance and subtlety that her role demanded. And though Kaufman’s nervousness in Act I was unmistakable as she ran over a few of her lines, it was a joy to see her pull it together for the second and final act. Her anxiety was also understandable considering that Wednesday night was the final dress rehearsal of her first Oberlin production. Regardless, the trio did a great job conveying all the absurdity of Pinter’s dialogue even if it was just through a quick shift in position or a stir of their coffee.

The set, designed by senior Ariel Emmerson, and sound, designed by junior Staab and sophomore Sanden Totten, were both conceived with this same sense of subtlety in mind. Everything from the couches to the lampshade had a distinct off-white shade to them — like a poodle that hasn’t had a good bath in months. And all of the furniture was constructed in the modern (i.e. minimalist) style with right angles abounding and zero excess ornamentation. Even the couches were backless. All of this contributed to a sterility that made the drama between the characters all the more alarming. The constant consumption of brandy and coffee functioned as the fourth character in the room as it was the constant backdrop of almost every interaction and helped fill the awkward silences between these bumbling conversations.
Though there wasn’t much, the use of sound was effective in communicating the tranquil listlessness of a home on the ocean. As Deeley and Kate discussed Anna’s imminent arrival, the faint sound of crashing waves could be heard off in the distance. Bringing these sounds back along with a faint, plaintive piano was especially effective during the play’s unspokent climax.
In Pinter’s world, memory is deceptive, friends aren’t to be trusted, and our past lives haunt us like colds that won’t go away. Lebovitz’s production was able to communicate this confusion and despair with depth and precision. Describing theater as “the only truly collaborative art form,” Lebovitz proved with his presentation of Old Times just how engrossing a theatrical performance can be that emphasizes collaboration so boldly.
Old Times opens today, Feb. 14 at the Little Theater and runs through Feb. 17.